Chrome OS

Read Cult of Mac’s latest posts on Chrome OS:

Bring your 2010 Mac back to life with Chrome OS Flex

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Chrome OS Flex turns 2009 MacBook into a useful computer again
Transform your old Mac into a Chromebook with Chrome OS Flex
Photo: Google

Google’s Chrome OS Flex is now ready to revive Macs that are too elderly to run the latest macOS version. That includes models as far back as 2010. It turns the Mac into a Chromebook, but at least it’s an up-to-date one.

The free OS is targeted at businesses and schools, but it might become a way for individuals to bring some new life to their obsolete Macs.

Chrome OS Flex turns 2009 MacBook into a useful computer again

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Chrome OS Flex turns 2009 MacBook into a useful computer again
Transform your old Mac into a Chromebook with Chrome OS Flex
Photo: Google

If you have an elderly Mac that’s not up to the demands of the latest macOS version, you can turn it into a Chromebook. All you need is Chrome OS Flex, an operating system Google created for older Macs and PCs.

The OS is still in beta, and targeted at businesses and schools. Nevertheless, it might become a way to bring some new life to your obsolete Mac.

Google steps up fight against iPhone by ripping off more Apple features

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Google rips off iPhone features
Spatial audio, unlock with Wear OS, and more on the way.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Google plans to make its latest Pixel and Wear OS devices more compelling alternatives to iPhone and Apple Watch by ripping off some of Cupertino’s most popular software features — including spatial audio and AirDrop.

The Android-maker revealed the long list of improvements, which will span all of Google’s software platforms as well as Windows, this week at the CES trade show in Las Vegas. Here’s what you can expect if you plan to ditch your Apple devices and swap sides.

Google’s Chrome OS proves more popular than macOS in 2020

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Chrome OS image
Move over Mac!
Photo: Google

According to new figures by IDC, 2020 is the first year in which Google’s Chrome OS was found on more new computers sold than macOS.

That’s due to the success of Chromebooks made by the likes of Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, and Lenovo. While no figures are given, it seems likely that these now outsell Macs.

Google has made its last iPad rival

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Google Pixel Slate tablet
Pixel Slate is the last Google tablet you’ll ever see,
Photo: Google

Google won’t make any more tablets, and dropped plans to introduce two models it was prepping for release.

No reason was given, but heavy competition from Apple’s iPad line had to have been a factor.

You can now enjoy Apple Music on your Chromebook

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Grab the latest update from the Play Store now.
Photo: Apple

Apple Music’s latest update on Android finally brings native Chromebook support for the first time.

The release also includes the same user interface changes that were rolled out on iOS last week. Subscribers can access a new Browse tab that designed to make music discovery even easier.

HP’s pricey new iPad Pro competitor totally misses the point

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HP Chromebook x2
The HP Chromebook x2 just doesn’t make sense.
Photo: HP

Android tablets were never going to topple the iPad, so now Apple’s rivals are trying their luck with new slates powered by Chrome OS. HP is the latest to throw its hat into the ring with the Chromebook x2, a pricey competitor to iPad Pro that ships with a detachable keyboard and stylus.

It’s somewhat attractive, but it makes no sense at $599.

Google’s first Chrome OS tablet arrives day before new iPad

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Chrome OS tablet
Acer’s 9.7-inch Chrome OS tablet is designed for students.
Photo: Acer

The first ever tablet to run Google’s Chrome OS has finally arrived.

Acer revealed its new Chromebook Tab 10 which is aiming to take a big slice of the education market. Chrome OS laptops have already had a lot of success in schools, but Apple is planning to launch its own cheap tablet for schools tomorrow. And it will undoubtedly steal the Chromebook Tab 10’s thunder.

Google Pixelbook finally makes Chrome OS exciting

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Google Pixelbook
As fancy as a MacBook.
Photo: Google

Google’s Chrome OS platform is finally exciting, thanks to the new Pixelbook.

It sports a premium design that’s incredible thin and light, and powerful hardware that you won’t find in another Chromebook. It’s also compatible with the new Pixelbook Pen, which makes light work of annotating documents, finding information, and more.

Google plans MacBook rival with new ‘Andromeda’ OS

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Chromebook Pixel
Google's next Pixel could be much more exciting.
Photo: Google

Google is expected to announce to new Pixel phones that will step up Android’s fight against the iPhone next month — and its assault on Apple won’t stop there.

According to a new report, the company is also planning a Pixel laptop powered by a new “Andromeda” operating system that will do battle with the MacBook. It could also steal some of its features, including the pressure-sensitive trackpad.

Google is developing a new operating system for everything

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Google's new operating system takes its name from colors.
Google's new operating system takes its name from colors.
Photo: Google

A brand new operating system with a colorful name is currently under development at Google, according to a new project page found on GitHub.

Google hasn’t officially acknowledged that it’s working on the project, but the new operating system could possibly replace Chrome OS and Android by being able to run on pretty much everything.

Google’s MacBook rivals will soon run Android apps

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Chrome OS is finally getting the Google Play Store.
Photo: HP

A Chromebook may be a super affordable alternative to the MacBook, but relying solely on web apps inside Google Chrome, they’re not ideal for those who have more than basic computing needs. Except they won’t just run web apps soon.

At its I/O conference in California today, Google announced that Chrome OS is finally getting the Google Play Store with full Android app support.

HP’s latest MacBook rival will only cost you half as much

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hps-latest-macbook-rival-will-only-cost-you-half-as-much-image-cultofandroidcomwp-contentuploads201604HP-Chromebook-13-jpg
It's even made of aluminum.
Photo: HP
HP-Chromebook-13
It’s even made of aluminum. Photo: HP

HP has another answer to the super sleek Apple MacBook, and despite similar specifications, it costs less than half the price.

The new all-aluminum Chromebook 13 boasts an Intel Core M processor, up to 16GB of RAM, and a battery that lasts up to 11.5 hours in between charges — and it starts at just $599!

Apple vs. Google: Which has the upper hand in innovation?

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To succeed in tech, you must be a master of innovation. No two companies understand this better than Apple and Google, which have become kings of the industry thanks to a string of incredible ideas that have shaped the technology we rely on today.

Friday-Night-Fights-bug-2But which company is continuing to innovate in 2015? Is it Apple, with its fitness-focused Apple Watch, Apple Pay, and a new streaming service that hopes to save the music industry? Or is it Google, with Google Glass, self-driving cars, and secret robots?

Join us as we take it to a debate in this week’s Friday Night Fight between Cult of Android and Cult of Mac.

Is Google Now Heading To The Mac?

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Chromium-notification-center-Mac

Google has begun integrating its notification center into Chromium for Mac, paving the way for Google Now for OS X. The Chrome OS feature was first ported to Chromium and then Chrome Canary for Windows back in March, but this is the first time it has been spotted on Mac.

Leaked Google Video Confirms Google Now For iOS

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Google-Now-iOS

Google Now, the intelligent personal assistant that was introduced to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean last June, appears to be gearing up to make its debut on iOS. The feature will be integrated into the Google Search app for iPhone and iPad, according to a promotional video that was allegedly posted to Google’s official YouTube channel prematurely — before quickly being pulled again.